Portable head and neck support pillow

Abstract

The support pillow assembly includes a portable support pillow designed to provide optimal head and adjacent neck support for the user in upright and/or reclined seated and supine positions. The pillow is optionally configured with a hole to securely support the occiput. The pillow may be configured in a taller or shorter profile. The pillow is tapered in a manner that maintains the user's neck and head in proper alignment. The support pillow assembly is constructed of single piece foam which is firm enough and contoured to prevent head turning and neck torsion. The support pillow is optionally configured with exterior support panels to provide additional utility, compressibility, stability, and comfort. The support pillow assembly optionally includes an adjustable strap that may be used to provide supplemental support to the head. It may be collapsed into a portable pillow comprising protective exterior supports, a cloth or similarly soft bag, or a protective case.

I claim: 
     
       1. A pillow for supporting a neck and a head of a user in a supine, inclined or upright position, the pillow assembly comprising:
 a. headrest portion; 
 b. a first and second side rest for supporting the head of the user, wherein a headrest portion is positioned between the first and second side rests and wherein the headrest portion comprises a curved interior for supporting the posterior part of the head and neck, having a larger radius at its upper portion that tapers to a smaller radius at its lower portion; 
 c. an arch-shaped bottom portion, wherein a bottom portion of said arch-shaped bottom portion rests on a nape of the neck of the user, further wherein a top of the arch shaped bottom portion is positioned at a base of the head rest and the bottom portion of the arch shaped bottom portion is positioned at a base of the first and second side rests; 
 d. first and second ear recesses on first and second lateral sides of the headrest portion, wherein said ear recesses are configured to receive ears of the user; 
 e. first and second trapezius recesses on the bottom portion of the arch shaped bottom portion positioned at the base of the first and second side rests, said trapezius recesses configured to receive a trapezius muscle of the user; 
 f. a curve on a first and second inferior surface of each side rest that rests on shoulders of the user, slanting downward from posterior to anterior as it extends from the posterior shoulder area down to overlie a clavicle area of the user; 
 g. an inward angle between the antero-posterior axis of each side rest and a perpendicular line from the rear of the pillow of between five (5) and 20 (twenty) degrees; 
 h. a rigid support on a back surface of the pillow, a front surface of the first side rest and a lateral surface of the second side rest. 
 
     
     
       2. The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein the rigid support on the back of the pillow covers 70% of the back of the pillow. 
     
     
       3. The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein the rigid support on the back surface of the pillow is aligned flush with the lateral surface of the first side rest. 
     
     
       4. The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein the ear recesses are configured with a concave shape to receive the lower portion of the user's ear, and wherein said ear recesses have a maximum supero-inferior dimension of 6 cm, or 10% higher or lower than 6 cm, a maximum antero-posterior dimension of 6 cm or 10% higher or lower than 6 cm, and a maximum left-right dimension (depth) of 2.2 cm or 10% higher or lower than 2.2 cm. 
     
     
       5. The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein the height of the pillow, measured 2 cm posterior to the anterior-most extent of the side rests, is 15 cm or 10% higher or lower than 15 cm; and wherein the posterior height of the pillow, measured at the posterior-most extent of the side rests, is 13 cm or 10% higher or lower than 13 cm. 
     
     
       6. The pillow according to  claim 5 , wherein the antero-posterior depth of the pillow, measured 2.5 cm from the bottom of the pillow and 3.5 cm from the lateral-most extent of the side rests, is 18 cm, or 10% higher or lower than 18 cm; and wherein the antero-posterior depth of the top of the pillow, measured 3.5 cm from the lateral-most extent of the side rests, is 15.5 cm or 10% higher or lower than 15.5 cm. 
     
     
       7. The pillow according to  claim 1 , comprising a single piece of polyester, polyurethane, polyether urethane, latex, visco-elastic or memory foam. 
     
     
       8. The pillow according to  claim 7 , made from high pressure compression molded polyether urethane at a 0.25-5 lb/cu.ft. density. 
     
     
       9. The pillow according to  claim 8 , comprising a coating of smooth polyurethane or plastic from 0.1 to 2.5 mm thick. 
     
     
       10. The pillow according to  claim 1  further comprising a cover. 
     
     
       11. The pillow according to  claim 10 , wherein said cover is fabricated primarily of a soft fabric. 
     
     
       12. The pillow according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one strap configured to compress the pillow when collapsed. 
     
     
       13. The pillow according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the pillow is 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm, 30 cm or within 10% higher or lower than 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm, or 30 cm. 
     
     
       14. A pillow for supporting a neck and a head of a user in a supine, inclined or upright position, the pillow assembly comprising:
 a. headrest portion; 
 b. a first and second side rest for supporting the head of the user, wherein a headrest portion is positioned between the first and second side rests and wherein the headrest portion comprises a curved interior for supporting the posterior part of the head and neck, having a larger radius at its upper portion that tapers to a smaller radius at its lower portion; 
 c. an arch-shaped bottom portion, wherein a bottom portion of said arch-shaped bottom portion rests on a nape of the neck of the user, further wherein a top of the arch shaped bottom portion is positioned at a base of the head rest and the bottom portion of the arch shaped bottom portion is positioned at a base of the first and second side rests; 
 d. first and second ear recesses on first and second lateral sides of the headrest portion, wherein said ear recesses are configured to receive ears of the user; 
 e. first and second trapezius recesses on the bottom portion of the arch shaped bottom portion positioned at the base of the first and second side rests, said trapezius recesses configured to receive a trapezius muscle of the user; 
 f. a curve on a first and second inferior surface of each side rest that rests on shoulders of the user, slanting downward from posterior to anterior as it extends from the posterior shoulder area down to overlie a clavicle area of the user; 
 g. a rigid support on a back surface of the pillow, a front surface of the first side rest and a lateral surface of the second side rest, wherein each side rest is angled forward perpendicularly (90 degrees) to the rear of the pillow. 
 
     
     
       15. The pillow according to  claim 14  wherein the height of the pillow, measured 2 cm posterior to the anterior-most extent of the side rests, is 22 cm or within 10% higher or lower than 22 cm; and wherein the posterior height of the pillow, measured at the posterior-most extent of the side rests, is 17 cm or within 10% higher or lower than 17 cm. 
     
     
       16. The pillow according to  claim 14 , comprising a single piece of polyester, polyurethane, polyether urethane, latex, visco-elastic or memory foam. 
     
     
       17. The pillow according to  claim 14 , made from high pressure compression molded polyether urethane at a 0.25-5 lb/cu.ft. density. 
     
     
       18. The pillow according to  claim 14 , comprising a coating of smooth polyurethane or plastic from 0.1 to 2.5 mm thick. 
     
     
       19. The pillow according to  claim 18 , wherein said smooth polyurethane or plastic is capable of allowing for surface cleaning or sterilization. 
     
     
       20. The pillow according to  claim 19 , wherein the length of the pillow is 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm, 30 cm or within 10% higher or lower than 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm, or 30 cm.